British journal of health psychology
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Br J Health Psychol · Feb 2008
Trajectories and predictors of anxiety and depression in women during the 12 months following an acute cardiac event.
Many previous investigations of the recovery of emotional well-being, particularly the resolution of depression, following an acute cardiac event assume that all patients follow a similar, linear trajectory. However, it is possible that there are different groups of patients who follow different trajectories. This study tested for multiple trajectories of anxiety and depression and identified the characteristics of patients most at risk for persistent or worsening anxiety and depression in the 12 months following their cardiac event. ⋯ Growth modelling techniques highlight that change in anxiety and depression following an acute event follows neither a single nor linear trajectory. Most women showed early resolution of anxiety and depression following their event, indicative of a normal bereavement or adjustment response. A minority of women reported worsening anxiety and/or depression in the year following their cardiac event, particularly those who lacked social support or were from non-English speaking backgrounds. Intervention studies to explore support options for these women are warranted, both prior to and following their event.